Google Maps has introduced a limited-time McLaren Formula 1 driving avatar that replaces the familiar blue navigation arrow with a miniature orange race car. Available on Android and iPhone, the new icon also works with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but the promotion ends November 23, 2026.
The feature began appearing in early October as part of Google’s partnership with the McLaren Formula 1 team. Inspired by McLaren’s 2026 MCL40 race car, the three-dimensional avatar follows your route just like the standard navigation symbol, bringing a recognizable piece of McLaren’s racing identity to everyday driving.
For American drivers, the useful detail is that the customization is not restricted to a phone screen. Reports from 9to5Google and Android Central confirm that the McLaren icon can also appear on compatible vehicle infotainment displays. However, availability is rolling out gradually, so not everyone will find it immediately.
How to Activate the McLaren F1 Icon in Google Maps
Google Maps already allows drivers to replace its default blue arrow with different vehicle designs. The McLaren joins those existing customization options as a temporary selection, rather than introducing an entirely new navigation feature.
To enable the McLaren avatar on an Android phone or iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Maps app on your smartphone.
- Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Open Your vehicles, then Driving avatar.
- Find the orange McLaren Formula 1 car and select it.
- Start a driving route to see the McLaren replace your usual navigation icon.
There is another way to access the vehicle selector. While navigating, tap the blue arrow or vehicle icon representing your position on the map. Google Maps displays available vehicle avatars, allowing you to choose the McLaren if it has been enabled for your account.
The selected car moves along the route as your position changes. Its papaya-orange appearance and open-wheel shape distinguish it from the standard vehicle icons. The change is visual: it does not provide different routing instructions, additional driving information, or new navigation capabilities.
The McLaren Avatar Also Appears on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The McLaren customization extends beyond the Google Maps smartphone interface. When a compatible vehicle uses Google Maps through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, the selected race car can appear on the vehicle’s infotainment screen.
That means drivers do not need a McLaren road car, a special vehicle package, or a particular automotive brand to use the feature. The customization belongs to Google Maps rather than the vehicle itself.
It is also separate from the historic McLaren F1 road-going supercar. The new navigation graphic represents a modern Formula 1 single-seater, with styling inspired by the team’s MCL40.
There is one availability limitation. Android Central reported seeing the feature on an iPhone while it was still missing from another Android device running an up-to-date version of Google Maps. That difference suggests Google is enabling the avatar through a gradual server-side rollout rather than making it available simultaneously to every user.
If the McLaren does not appear in your vehicle selection menu, checking again later may be more useful than repeatedly changing your phone’s settings.
November 23 Is the Deadline for the Limited-Time McLaren Icon
Google’s in-app description identifies the McLaren as an official team avatar celebrating the United States Grand Prix and specifies November 23, 2026, as the end of its availability window.
The timing places the promotion alongside the American portion of the Formula 1 calendar. The 2026 United States Grand Prix takes place in Austin, Texas, on October 25, while the Las Vegas Grand Prix follows in November. The November 23 deadline comes after the Las Vegas race weekend.
The original French report from Sport Auto, published October 12, also identifies the November cutoff. However, Google has not clearly explained whether drivers who select the McLaren before that date will be able to retain it afterward.
For now, the confirmed benefit is straightforward: drivers can personalize their Google Maps navigation with a recognizable McLaren race car on both smartphone and compatible dashboard displays. Anyone interested in trying it should look for the option before November 23 rather than assume it will become a permanent part of the app.
